Essential Trading is a workers’ co-operative with 75 members. It was set up in 1991 by the merger of two wholefood co-ops in Bristol and Bath (Harvest and Nova). Harvest Foods had been trading since 1971 and the name is still used for Essential’s two retail outlets.

The merger was successful and Essential Trading has grown steadily, helped at key stages with loans from Co-operative & Community Finance. The most recent loan was to rebuild and expand the storage facilities for chilled and frozen foods in its warehouse.

Since then, they have just completed building new offices within the warehouse, purchased new packaging machines and best of all … given all co-op members a pay rise!

Richard Crook, Essential’s Finance Co-Director, explained: “We have doubled our cold storage capacity and replaced all the units with more energy-efficient equipment. We were planning this for some time and it’s coincided with a significant upturn in sales. ”

Ian Rothwell, C&CF’s Investment Manager, said: “Essential Trading, and the two co-ops that merged to create it, are one of our longest established borrowers. We’ve helped to finance various expansions over the years and we’re delighted to do it again. This is a very successful workers’ co-operative.”